[The occurrence and impact on survival of type 2 diabetes mellitus and thrombocytosis in colorectal cancer, before and after the surgical resection of the primary tumor]. / Colorectalis daganatokban a 2-es típusú cukorbetegség és a thrombocytosis elofordulása, a túlélésre gyakorolt hatásuk, a primer tumor mutéti eltávolítása elott és után.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between platelets and metastatic tumor cells is an ongoing research area. Pre- and postoperative thrombocytosis are suggested predictive survival markers. Colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes are characterized by various changes to platelets. The occurrence of colorectal cancer is more frequent in diabetes. AIM: Our aim was to determine the occurrence of type 2 diabetes in colorectal cancer patients, who attended the Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Internal Medicine's Oncology Department in the last three years. Further goals included the evaluation of anamnestic, pre- and postoperative laboratory data, and whether diabetes can be a significant survival factor. METHOD: A retrospective study was conducted with 86 randomly selected colorectal cancer patients' preoperative (86 patients) and paired postoperative (66, who were operable) data. Patients were monitored no later than September 30, 2017 or until their death. RESULTS: Preoperatively, elevated (over 400 Giga/L) platelet counts were present in 22.1% of the patients (323.5 ± 128.63 Giga/L, mean ± SD) which decreased to 10.6% postoperatively (χ2: p = 0.0351; 289.2 ± 82.45 Giga/L, p = 0.0232). Negative correlation was found between platelet counts and overall survival (R: -0.35, p = 0.0085). One third of the patients had diabetes. Laboratory results (i.e., blood counts, creatinine) between diabetic and non-diabetic patients were not significant. Diabetes is a significant five-fold postoperative risk factor for shorter overall survival (relative risk: 5.1612, p = 0.0165). Average survival was 30.6 ± 26.78 months. CONCLUSION: Persistent consequential postoperative thrombocytosis may indicate shorter survival time. Our observations suggest elevated platelet counts and type 2 diabetes as prognostic markers for survival at the recognition of colorectal tumors. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(19): 756-767.

Polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: 2017 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management.

DISEASE OVERVIEW: Polycythemia Vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) are myeloproliferative neoplasms respectively characterized by erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis; other disease features include leukocytosis, splenomegaly, thrombosis, bleeding, microcirculatory symptoms, pruritus, and risk of leukemic or fibrotic transformation. DIAGNOSIS: PV is defined by a JAK2 mutation, whose absence, combined with normal or increased serum erythropoietin level, makes the diagnosis unlikely. JAK2, CALR, and MPL mutations are the mutually exclusive "driver" mutations in ET with respective incidences of 55%, 25%, and 3%; approximately 17% are triple-negative. However, the same molecular markers might also be present in prefibrotic myelofibrosis, whose morphological distinction from ET is prognostically relevant. SURVIVAL AND LEUKEMIC/FIBROTIC TRANSFORMATION: Median survivals are approximately 14 years for PV and 20 years for ET; the corresponding values for younger patients (age <60 years) are 24 and 33 years. Life-expectancy in ET is inferior to the control population. Driver mutational status has not been shown to affect survival in ET whereas the presence of JAK2/MPL mutations has been associated with higher risk of arterial thrombosis and that of MPL with higher risk of fibrotic progression. Risk factors for overall survival in both ET and PV include advanced age, leukocytosis and thrombosis. Leukemic transformation rates at 20 years are estimated at <10% for PV and 5% for ET; fibrotic transformation rates are slightly higher. Most recently, ASXL1, SRSF2, and IDH2 mutations have been associated with inferior overall, leukemia-free or fibrosis-free survival in PV; similarly adverse mutations in ET included SH2B3, SF3B1, U2AF1, TP53, IDH2, and EZH2. THROMBOSIS RISK STRATIFICATION: Current risk stratification in PV and ET is designed to estimate the likelihood of recurrent thrombosis. Accordingly, PV includes two risk categories: high-risk (age >60 years or thrombosis history) and low-risk (absence of both risk factors). In ET, risk stratification includes four categories: very low risk (age ≤60 years, no thrombosis history, JAK2/MPL un-mutated), low risk (age ≤60 years, no thrombosis history, JAK2/MPL mutated), intermediate risk (age >60 years, no thrombosis history, JAK2/MPL un-mutated), and high risk (thrombosis history or age >60 years with JAK2/MPL mutation). In addition, presence of extreme thrombocytosis (platelets >1000 × 10(9)/L) might be associated with acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AvWS) and, therefore, risk of bleeding. RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY: The main goal of therapy in PV and ET is to prevent thrombohemorrhagic complications. All patients with PV require phlebotomy to keep hematocrit below 45% and once-daily aspirin (81 mg). In addition, high-risk patients with PV require cytoreductive therapy. Very low risk ET patients might not require any form of therapy while low-risk patients require at least once-daily aspirin therapy. Cytoreductive therapy is also recommended for high-risk ET patients but it is not mandatory for intermediate-risk patients. First-line drug of choice for cytoreductive therapy, in both ET and PV, is hydroxyurea and second-line drugs of choice are interferon-α and busulfan. We currently do not recommend treatment with ruxolutinib or other JAK2 inhibitors in PV or ET, unless in the presence of severe and protracted pruritus or marked splenomegaly that is not responding to the aforementioned drugs. Screening for AvWS is recommended before administrating aspirin, in the presence of extreme thrombocytosis. Am. J. Hematol. 92:95-108, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pretreatment thrombocytosis as a significant prognostic factor in malignant mesothelioma: a meta-analysis.

The current meta-analysis analyzed the prognostic impact of elevated platelet count before the treatment of malignant mesothelioma (MM). We performed a search for articles published up to April 15, 2016 in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science, which evaluated elevated platelet count and survival outcome of MM. STATA version 12 was used for statistical analysis. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to calculate overall effects. The assessment of heterogeneity was tested by the Cochran Q and I2 statistics. The sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were performed to explore the origin of heterogeneity. We analyzed 18 eligible studies (3602 patients) that evaluated the correlation between pretreatment platelet count and overall survival (OS). Elevated platelet count was a prognostic factor of poor OS, with a pooled HR of 1.56 (95% CI = 1.36-1.77). However, significant heterogeneity was observed in the included studies (I2 = 86.0%, p < 0.001). Sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were performed to trace the origin of heterogeneity. Only the variable type (multivariable or univariate model) was traced as the origin of heterogeneity. Hence, we conducted a subgroup analysis of variable type. The HR was 1.66 (95% CI = 1.41-1.91) in the multivariable group and no significant heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.476). In conclusion, high pretreatment platelet count resulted in poor OS in MM. Therefore, platelet count could be an adequate and useful factor of prognosis for MM.

Thresholds and timing of pre-operative thrombocytosis and ovarian cancer survival: analysis of laboratory measures from electronic medical records.

BACKGROUND: Thrombocytosis has been associated with poor ovarian cancer prognosis. However, comparisons of thresholds to define thrombocytosis and evaluation of relevant timing of platelet measurement has not been previously conducted. METHODS: We selected Tumor Registry confirmed ovarian, primary peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancer cases diagnosed between 1995-2013 from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Laboratory measured platelet values from electronic medical records (EMR) were used to determine thrombocytosis at three thresholds: a platelet count greater than 350, 400, or 450 × 10(9)/liter. Timing was evaluated with 5 intervals: on the date of diagnosis, and up to 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks prior to the date of diagnosis. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and confidence intervals (CI) for association with overall survival; adjustment included age, stage, grade, and histologic subtype of disease. RESULTS: Pre-diagnosis platelet measures were available for 136, 241, 280, 297, and 304 cases in the five intervals. The prevalence of thrombocytosis decreased with increasing thresholds and was generally consistent across the five time intervals, ranging from 44.8-53.2 %, 31.6-39.4 %, and 19.9-26.1 % across the three thresholds. Associations with higher grade and stage of disease gained significance as the threshold increased. With the exception of the lowest threshold on the date of diagnosis (HR350: 1.55, 95 % CI: 0.97-2.47), all other survival associations were significant, with the highest reaching twice the risk of death for thrombocytosis on the date of diagnosis (HR400: 2.01, 95 % CI: 1.25-3.23). CONCLUSIONS: Our EMR approach yielded associations comparable to published findings from medical record abstraction approaches. In addition, our results indicate that lower thrombocytosis thresholds and platelet measures up to 8 weeks before diagnosis may inform ovarian cancer characteristics and prognosis.

Paraneoplastic thrombocytosis in gastrointestinal cancer.

It has been demonstrated recently in several solid tumors that thrombocytosis at diagnosis may correlate with tumor invasion, metastatic progression and worse outcome. Several details of the pathomechanism of the relationship of thrombocytosis and cancer have been elucidated; however, the complete process is not clearly understood. Several hypotheses have been proposed. Recently, it was suggested that in ovarian cancer elevated IL-6 production by the tumor may induce increased megakaryopoiesis via hepatic thrombopoietin production leading to thrombocytosis. The importance of the prognostic power of elevated platelet count is still debated in gastrointestinal cancer. The aims of this review were to evaluate the prognostic significance of thrombocytosis in gastrointestinal tumors, to see whether clinical practice confirmed the hypotheses and to reveal the causes of the inconsistent findings.

Paraneoplastic thrombocytosis independently predicts poor prognosis in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Platelets are believed to promote tumor growth and metastasis but their prognostic role in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) remains largely unknown. We assessed whether pretreatment platelet counts independently predict survival outcomes in patients with LAPC treated with chemoradiation (CRT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the MD Anderson pancreatic cancer database and identified 199 patients with LAPC treated with CRT between 2006 and 2012. Induction chemotherapy was used prior to consolidative CRT in 177 (89%) patients. Median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy. Concurrent radiosensitizers were gemcitabine-based (13%) or capecitabine-based (84%) regimens. Actuarial univariate and multivariate statistical methods were used to determine significant prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) calculated from the start of treatment. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 9.9 months. Median OS and PFS durations were 17.7 and 10.7 months, respectively. On univariate analysis, platelet count > 300 K/µl, KPS ≤ 80, ≥ 5% weight loss and pretreatment CA19-9 above the median were associated with inferior OS or PFS. Median OS was lower in patients with platelet count > 300 K/µl compared to patients with platelet count ≤ 300 K/µl (10.2 vs. 19 months; p = 0.0002). Corresponding median PFS times were 7.8 months and 11.1 months (p = 0.004), respectively. On multivariate analysis, platelet count > 300 K/µl (p = 0.012), ≥ 5% weight loss (p = 0.002) and elevated pretreatment CA19-9 (p = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Platelet count > 300 K/µl (p = 0.03) and KPS ≤ 80 (p = 0.05) independently predicted PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests that pretreatment thrombocytosis independently predicts inferior OS and PFS in LAPC.

Thrombocytosis is Predictive of Postoperative Pulmonary Embolism in Patients With Gynecologic Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The prompt diagnosis of postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) in gynecologic oncology patients is imperative, but the clinical presentation is nonspecific in this high-risk group. We sought to determine risk factors and clinical findings that may assist clinicians in diagnosing PE in the inpatient setting. METHODS: Radiology data were queried to identify patients with gynecologic cancer who had a postoperative PE evaluation with computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CT-PA). Patient clinical findings at the time of the PE evaluation were abstracted, and univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of PE. RESULTS: For 6 years, there were 2498 major gynecologic oncology surgical procedures performed at our institution. Within 14 days of surgery, 107 CT-PA studies were obtained with a positive study rate of 24.3%. In patients with and without PE, there was no significant difference noted for age, oxygen saturations, body mass index and heart rate. After controlling for stage, history of venous thromboembolism (VTE), heart rate, and oxygen saturation, platelet count (odds ratio, 1.26 per 50 counts increase; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.48; P = 0.006) and history of VTE (odds ratio, 17.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.77-Inf, P = 0.014) were identified as independent predictors of PE in the multivariate model. CONCLUSIONS: Although clinicians often use tachycardia and low oxygen saturation as triggers to order PE imaging studies, these signs have a very low specificity. Given the findings of our study, accounting for high platelet count and history of VTE increases the pretest probability of CT-PA study.

Thrombocytosis is associated with increased short and long term mortality after exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a role for antiplatelet therapy?

INTRODUCTION: Evidence suggests that platelets play a significant role in inflammation in addition to their role in thrombosis. Systemic inflammation is linked to poor short and long term outcomes in COPD. Increased platelet activation has been reported in acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). We investigated whether thrombocytosis is independently associated with poor outcomes following AECOPD. METHODS: An observational cohort study of patients hospitalised with AECOPD was performed. Patients were >40 years with spirometry confirmed COPD admitted between 2009 and 2011. Platelet count was recorded on admission. The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included inhospital mortality and cardiovascular events. Analyses were conducted using logistic regression after adjustment for confounding variables. RESULTS: 1343 patients (49% male) were included. Median age was 72 years (IQR 63-79 years). 157 (11.7%) had thrombocytosis. Thrombocytosis was associated with both 1-year mortality and inhospital mortality; OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.03 to 2.29, p=0.030) and OR 2.37 (95% CI 1.29 to 4.34, p=0.005), respectively. Cardiovascular hospitalisation was not significantly increased (OR 1.13 (95% CI 0.73 to 1.76, p=0.600)) in patients with thrombocytosis. Aspirin or clopidogrel treatment correlated with a reduction in 1-year mortality (OR 0.63 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.85, p=0.003)) but not inhospital mortality (OR 0.69 (95% CI 0.41 to 1.11, p=0.124)). CONCLUSIONS: After adjustment for confounders thrombocytosis was associated with increased 1-year mortality after exacerbation of COPD. Antiplatelet therapy was associated with significantly lower 1-year mortality and may have a protective role to play in patients with AECOPD.

Abnormal platelet count is an independent predictor of mortality in the elderly and is influenced by ethnicity.

Even though alterations in platelet counts are presumed to be detrimental, their impact on the survival of patients has not been studied in large cohorts. The prevalence of thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis was examined in a large inner city outpatient population of 36,262 individuals aged ≥65 years old. A significant association with shorter overall survival was found for both thrombocytopenia (HR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.36-1.56) and thrombocytosis (HR=1.75; 95% CI: 1.56-1.97) when compared to the survival of patients with normal platelet counts. This effect persisted across all ethnic groups. However, African-Americans (non-Hispanic Blacks) with either thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis were at significantly lower risk compared to non-Hispanic Caucasians (HR=0.82; 95% CI: 0.69-0.96 and HR=0.70; 95% CI: 0.53-0.94, respectively). Furthermore, Hispanics with thrombocytosis were found to have a lower mortality risk compared to non-Hispanic Caucasians with thrombocytosis (HR=0.60; 95% CI: 0.44-0.81). A value of <125,000 platelets per microliter was a better prognostic marker for non-Hispanic Blacks and these subjects with this platelet count had similar overall survival to that of Caucasians with a value of <150,000 per microliter. In conclusion, thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia are independently associated with shorter overall survival in elderly subjects and this effect is modified by ethnicity. Using different thresholds to define the association of thrombocytopenia and thrombocytosis with overall mortality risk among non-Hispanic Blacks may, therefore, be warranted.

Preoperative thrombocytosis is a significant unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that pretreatment thrombocytosis is associated with poor outcomes in several cancer types. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic significance of preoperative thrombocytosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who undergo surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 199 patients who underwent R0 resection for NSCLC between May 2003 and July 2006 at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea. RESULTS: The frequency of preoperative thrombocytosis was 7.5% (15/199). Patients with preoperative thrombocytosis had shorter overall survival (OS, P = 0.003) and disease-free survival (DFS, P = 0.005) than those without thrombocytosis. In multivariable analysis, patients with preoperative thrombocytosis had a significantly greater risk of death and recurrence than those without preoperative thrombocytosis (risk of death: hazard ratio (HR) 2.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39 to 6.37, P = 0.005; risk of recurrence: HR 2.47, 95% CI 1.22 to 5.01, P = 0.012). A tendency towards a shorter OS and DFS was observed in three patients with persistent thrombocytosis during the follow-up period when compared with those of patients who recovered from thrombocytosis after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative thrombocytosis was valuable for predicting the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. Special attention should be paid to patients with preoperative and postoperative thrombocytosis.

[Evaluation of thrombocytosis as predictive factor in colorectal cancer]. / A thrombocytosis mint prediktív faktor értékelése colorectalis tumorokban.

UNLABELLED: INTRODUCTION/AIM OF THE STUDY: Preoperative thrombocytosis proved to be a negative prognostic factor in several solid tumor. However, there is still debate in the literature regarding colorectal cancer. The aim of our study was to examine whether thrombocytosis is an independent risk factor for metastasis development and predictor of survival in colorectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicopathological data of 336 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and 118 patients with liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (mCRC) who had operation between 2001 and 2011 were collected retrospectively. Thrombocytosis was defined as 400 G/L < platelet count. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined with Kaplan-Meier method supported by log-rank test. RESULTS: Both in the CRC and the mCRC group OS was significantly shorter in patients who had elevated platelet count (HR = 2.2, p < 0.001 and HR = 2.9, p = 0.018, respectively). Multivariate analysis confirmed that elevated platelet count was an independent prognostic factor of both CRC (HR = 1.7, p = 0.035) and mCRC (HR = 3.1, p = 0.017). DFS was significantly shorter in patients with elevated platelet count in the CRC group (HR = 2.0, p = 0.011). DISCUSSION: The platelet count is a valuable and cheap prognostic marker for the prediction of survival in patients both with CRC and mCRC.

Clinical features and course of refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis.

BACKGROUND: Refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis was proposed as a provisional entity in the 2001 World Health Organization classification of myeloid neoplasms and also in the 2008 version, but its existence as a single entity is contested. We wish to define the clinical features of this rare myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm and to compare its clinical outcome with that of refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and essential thrombocythemia. DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a collaborative retrospective study across Europe. Our database included 200 patients diagnosed with refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and marked thrombocytosis. For each of these patients, each patient diagnosed with refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts was matched for age and sex. At the same time, a cohort of 454 patients with essential thrombocythemia was used to compare outcomes of the two diseases. RESULTS: In patients with refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and marked thrombocytosis, depending on the Janus Kinase 2 V617F mutational status (positive or negative) or platelet threshold (over or below 600 × 10(9)/L), no difference in survival was noted. However, these patients had shorter overall survival and leukemia-free survival with a lower risk of thrombotic complications than did patients with essential thrombocythemia (P<0.001) but better survival (P<0.001) and a higher risk of thrombosis (P=0.039) than patients with refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course of refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and marked thrombocytosis is better than that of refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and worse than that of essential thrombocythemia. The higher risk of thrombotic events in this disorder suggests that anti-platelet therapy might be considered in this subset of patients. From a clinical point of view, it appears to be important to consider refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts and marked thrombocytosis as a distinct entity.

A new prognostic model for cancer-specific survival after radical cystectomy including pretreatment thrombocytosis and standard pathological risk factors.

UNLABELLED: Study Type - Prognosis (cohort series) Level of Evidence 2a What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Preoperative thrombocytosis has been identified as a predictor of poor outcome in various cancer types. However, the prognostic role of platelet count in patients with invasive bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy is unknown. The present study demonstrates that preoperative thrombocytosis is an independent risk factor for decreased cancer-specific survival after radical treatment of invasive bladder cancer. We developed a new prognostic scoring model for cancer-specific outcomes after radical cystectomy including platelet count and established pathological risk factors. Consideration of platelet count in the final model increased its predictive accuracy significantly. Thrombocytosis may be a useful parameter to include within established international bladder cancer nomograms. OBJECTIVE: • To investigate the oncological significance of preoperative thrombocytosis in patients with invasive bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy, as it has been reported as a marker for aggressive tumour biology in a variety of solid tumours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: • The series comprised 258 patients undergoing radical cystectomy between 1999 and 2010 in whom different clinical and histopathological parameters were assessed. • Elevated platelet count was defined as >450 × 10(9) /L. • Based on regression estimates of significant parameters in multivariable analysis a new weighted scoring model was developed to predict cancer-specific outcomes. RESULTS: • The median follow-up was 30 months (6-116). • Of the 258 patients, 26 (10.1%) had elevated and 232 (89.9%) had normal platelet count. The 3-year cancer-specific survival in patients with normal and elevated platelet count was 61.5% and 32.7%, respectively (P < 0.001). • In multivariable analysis, cancer-specific survival was significantly lower in patients with locally advanced disease (≥pT3a) (relative risk 2.91, 1.54-5.65; P= 0.001), positive soft tissue surgical margins (4.03, 1.99-7.92; P= 0.001) and thrombocytosis (2.68, 1.26-5.14; P= 0.011). • The 3-year cancer-specific survival in patients with a score 0 (low risk), 1-2 (intermediate risk) and 3-5 (high risk) was 81.0%, 54.8% and 8.2%, respectively (P < 0.001). • Consideration of preoperative platelet count in the final model increased its predictive accuracy by 1.8% with a concordance index of 0.745 (P= 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: • The presence of thrombocytosis at radical cystectomy portends unfavourable prognosis. • We constructed a simple weighted prognostic model for cancer-specific outcomes after radical cystectomy based on pretreatment platelet count and established pathological risk factors. • These data warrant external validation and may allow for tailored monitoring and selection of appropriate patients for neoadjuvant and adjuvant trials.

Preoperative thrombocytosis is associated with survival after surgery for colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of preoperative thrombocytosis on survival after surgery in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: Four hundred fifty-three patients who had undergone CRC surgery were retrospectively identified from institutional database. On the basis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, they were classified into two groups: group A, with a preoperative platelet count of ≤300 (×10(9) /L), and Group B, with a preoperative platelet count of >300 (×10(9) /L). Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship to overall survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log rank test were used to compare the survival curves between groups A and B. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in overall survival between the two groups (P = 0.007). Multivariate analysis of selected preoperative clinicolaboratory characteristics showed that overall survival was associated with the platelet count (Group A/B) (odds ratio, 1.642; 95% CI, 1.025-2.629; P = 0.039) as well as the number of tumors (1/≥2), and the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). CONCLUSION: Preoperative thrombocytosis is associated with survival after surgery in CRC patients, and is able to divide such patients into two independent groups before surgery.

Elevation of platelet count in patients with colorectal cancer predicts tendency to metastases and poor prognosis.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Thrombocytosis had been found to be associated with tumor metastasis and poor prognosis in malignant tumors including colorectal cancer (CRC). In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the platelet and the biological features in patients with CRC in China. METHODOLOGY: The correlation of platelet counts of 150 cases with CRC with their clinicopathological characteristics was explored. Furthermore, the survival impact of preoperative platelet count was also investigated. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations between the platelet count and the lymph node and distance metastasis (p=0.016 and 0.014), vascular and perinural invasion (p=0.025 and 0.016) as well as TNM clinical stages (p=0.014) except for the age, gender and grades (p=0.245, 0.276 and 0.324, respectively) were found. In addition, 5-year survival of patients with high platelet count and normal platelet count were 13.30% and 56.30%, respectively (p=0.000). Meanwhile, concurrent with lymph node and distance metastasis, perinural invasion and clinical stages (p=0.000, 0.022, 0.034 and 0.000), platelet count (p=0.010) was also found to be an independent prognostic factor in CRC in our study through multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated platelet might play some role in the progress of CRC and preoperative platelet count might be a prognostic indicator in the CRC patients.

The impact of pretreatment thrombocytosis and persistent thrombocytosis after adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of both pretreatment thrombocytosis, and platelet count reduction post-adjuvant chemotherapy, on survival in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: Records of 179 women who underwent cytoreductive surgery for FIGO stage III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer and received six cycles of platinum/paclitaxel-based chemotherapy between July 1998 and March 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Platelet ratio was defined as the preoperative platelet count divided by the platelet count after chemotherapy. The prognostic significance of thrombocytosis and platelet ratio, together with various clinicopathological factors, were evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-two of 179 (34.6%) patients had thrombocytosis at primary diagnosis. Patients with preoperative thrombocytosis had greater elevations of CA-125 (p<0.0001) and a greater volume of ascites (p=0.007). On multivariate analysis, thrombocytosis and CA-125 elevation retained significance as indicators of poor prognosis in patients with stage III or IV disease. In patients with normal CA-125 after chemotherapy, a high platelet ratio was an independent risk factor for reduced survival (p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative thrombocytosis and a high platelet ratio appear to be poor prognostic factors of survival in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer who were treated with cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant platinum/paclitaxel-based chemotherapy.

Role of preoperative platelet level in clinical and pathological outcomes after surgery for renal cortical malignancies.

OBJECTIVE •To investigate preoperative platelet level (PLT) as a prognostic factor for pathologic and clinical outcomes following surgery for renal cortical malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS • 1422 patients underwent radical or partial nephrectomy at our institution from 1988-2009 for renal cortical lesions. • The cohort with available PLT values was divided into group 1 (PLT ≤ 400 × 109) and (PLT > 400 × 109) based on institutional laboratory upper threshold (400 × 109 cells/liter). RESULTS • 961 patients were divided into groups 1 (n = 870) and 2 (n = 91), with mean age at surgery of 61 and 60 years, 70.6% and 50.6% males (P ≤ 0.0001), 56% undergoing radical nephrectomy in each group, 39.1% vs. 22% undergoing partial nephrectomy (P = 0.001) respectively. • Groups differed significantly inmedian tumour size (5.06 vs. 7.28 cm) (P ≤ 0.001), pathologic T stage (P = 0.002), and metastases (P ≤ 0.0001). No significant difference existed regarding histologic findings at surgery. • With median follow-up of 24 months, PLT > 400 × 109 cells/liter was associated with decreased overall (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) using log rank test (P ≤ 0.0001). • On multivariate analysis, controlling for TNM stage, histology, and tumour diameter, PLT > 400 × 109 cells/liter independently predicted decreased OS (HR 1.67, P = 0.007) and DSS (HR 2.39, P = 0.001). As a continuous variable, PLT predicted OS (HR 1.002, P = 0.005) and DSS (HR 1.003, P = 0.004). • With metastatic patients excluded, PLT was significantly associated with OS and DSS, but was not an independent predictor. CONCLUSION • PLT is a clinically significant independent predictor of OS and DSS in continuous and categorical analyses in patients undergoing renal cortical malignancy surgery. PLT may be clinically useful for risk stratifying patients undergoing surgery for renal cancer, especially for prognosis assessment of patients with renal cortical malignancy and micrometastatic disease at surgery.

Mediterranean Diet Maintained Platelet Count within a Healthy Range and Decreased Thrombocytopenia-Related Mortality Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

There is little information on the dietary modulation of thrombosis-related risk factors such as platelet count. We aimed to assess the effects of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on platelet count and related outcomes in an older population at high cardiovascular risk. In participants of the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) study, we assessed whether an intervention with a MedDiet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, relative to a low-fat control diet, modulated platelet count (n = 4189), the risk of developing thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia (n = 3086), and the association between these alterations and all-cause mortality (median follow-up time: 3.0 years). Although platelet count increased over time (+0.98·109 units/L·year [95% confidence interval: 0.12; 1.84]), MedDiet interventions moderated this increase, particularly in individuals with near-high baseline count (both MedDiets combined: -3.20·109 units/L·year [-5.81; -0.59]). Thrombocytopenia incidence was lower in the MedDiet interventions (incidence rates: 2.23% in control diet, 0.91% in MedDiets combined; hazard ratio: 0.44 [0.23; 0.83]). Finally, thrombocytopenia was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 4.71 [2.69; 8.24]), but this relationship was attenuated in those allocated to MedDiet (p-interaction = 0.018). In brief, MedDiet maintained platelet counts within a healthy range and attenuated platelet-related mortality in older adults at high cardiovascular risk.

Hereditary thrombocytosis caused by MPLSer505Asn is associated with a high thrombotic risk, splenomegaly and progression to bone marrow fibrosis.

UNLABELLED: Background The MPL(Ser505Asn) mutation has been reported to be a cause of hereditary thrombocythemia. Recently, we detected this mutation in a large proportion of children with familial thrombocythemia, suggesting that in Italy the incidence of MPL(Ser505Asn) mutation could be underestimated. DESIGN AND METHODS: We extended the search for this mutation to all patients with essential thrombocythemia who had a positive family history for thrombocytosis or essential thrombocythemia. We identified eight Italian families positive for the MPL(Ser505Asn) mutation. Clinical and hematologic data were available for members of seven families, including 21 patients with a proven mutation and 20 relatives with thrombocytosis. RESULTS: Fifteen major thrombotic episodes, nine of which were fatal, were recorded among 41 patients. The thrombotic manifestation was stroke in four cases, myocardial infarction in seven cases, fetal loss in two cases, deep vein thrombosis of the leg in one case and Budd Chiari syndrome in one case. Almost all patients over 20 years old had splenomegaly and bone marrow fibrosis, while these were rarely observed in patients under 20 years old, suggesting that these manifestations are associated with aging. Finally, the life expectancy of family members with thrombocytosis was significantly shorter than that of members without thrombocytosis (P=0.003). Conclusions Patients with familial thrombocytosis caused by a MPL(Ser505Asn) mutation have a high risk of thrombosis and, with aging, develop splenomegaly and bone marrow fibrosis, significantly affecting their life expectancy.